A commercially available vehicle is modified by coupling a beamed-power transmission system to the vehicle's frame. The beamed-power transmission system is arranged to deliver beamed power to a remote device such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (i.e., UAV or drone). The cooling system of the vehicle is used to cool portions of the beamed-power transmission system. An aiming system aims a power beam produced by the beamed-power transmitter toward the remote device, and a stability system coupled to both the vehicle frame and the beamed-power transmission system maintains three-dimensional constancy of the power beam even when the vehicle frame is in motion. The commercially available vehicle may be an electric vehicle, a gas-electric hybrid vehicle, or the like having a power source that includes batteries, a fuel-cells, or a generator.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system, comprising: a remote device configured to survey a geographical area; and a vehicle, the vehicle having: a frame; a drive system coupled to the frame, the drive system arranged to propel the vehicle; a beamed-power transmission system coupled to the frame, the beamed-power transmission system arranged to deliver beamed power to the remote device; an electrical energy efficient power source coupled to the frame, the electrical energy efficient power source configured to store electrical energy and arranged to power the drive system and the beamed-power transmission system, the drive system configured to propel the vehicle using power received from the electrical energy efficient power source; a local power interface integrated with the vehicle and arranged to pass local power to the remote device when the remote device is proximate to the vehicle; and a local docking interface integrated with the vehicle and arranged to receive the remote device.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the local docking interface is arranged to physically secure the remote device to the vehicle when the remote device is not positioned remote from the vehicle.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the local power interface and the local docking interface are integrated into a single unit.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the beamed-power transmission system includes at least one transmitter of either a laser beam transmitter or a microwave beam transmitter.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the local power interface includes at least one of an electrical wire, an electrical wireless charging pad, an electrical plug, and an electrical receiver.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote device is an unmanned aerial vehicle arranged to receive power via a power beam.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote device includes: a receiver to receive the power beam and convert energy from the power beam into electric power consumable by the remote device; and a tracking system to maintain line-of-sight between the vehicle and the remote device.
8. A system, comprising: a remote device requiring electric power to operate; and a vehicle, the vehicle having: a frame; a drive system coupled to the frame, the drive system arranged to propel the vehicle; a beamed-power transmission system coupled to the frame, the beamed-power transmission system arranged to deliver beamed power to the remote device; an electrical energy efficient power source coupled to the frame, the electrical energy efficient power source configured to store electrical energy and arranged to power the drive system and the beamed-power transmission system, the drive system configured to propel the vehicle using power received from the electrical energy efficient power source; a local power interface integrated with the vehicle and arranged to pass local power to the remote device when the remote device is proximate to the vehicle; and a local docking interface integrated with the vehicle and arranged to receive the remote device.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote device is a remote self-propelled device requiring the electric power to propel itself.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the remote self-propelled device includes: a receiver to receive the power beam and convert energy from the power beam into electric power consumable by the remote self-propelled device; and a tracking system to maintain line-of-sight between the vehicle and the remote self-propelled device.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tracking system is configured to transmit tracking feedback information to the beamed-power transmission system, the beamed-power transmission system configured to use the tracking feedback information to maintain the line-of-sight.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the remote self-propelled device is configured to return automatically to the vehicle as a result of detecting one or more defined conditions.
13. A system, comprising: a remote stationary device requiring electric power to operate; and a vehicle, the vehicle having: a frame; a drive system coupled to the frame, the drive system arranged to propel the vehicle; a beamed-power transmission system coupled to the frame, the beamed-power transmission system arranged to deliver beamed power to the remote stationary device; an electrical energy efficient power source coupled to the frame, the electrical energy efficient power source configured to store electrical energy and arranged to power the drive system and the beamed-power transmission system, the drive system configured to propel the vehicle using power received from the electrical energy efficient power source; and a local power interface integrated with the vehicle and arranged to pass local power to the remote stationary device when the remote stationary device is proximate to the vehicle.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the remote stationary device is selected from a device group comprising the following types of devices: a piece of industrial equipment; a communications structure; and a sign.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the beamed-power transmission system includes at least one transmitter of either a laser beam transmitter or a microwave beam transmitter.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 19, 2019
September 8, 2020
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.